The ASEAN Science and Technology Fellowship (ASEAN S&T Fellowship) was launched in 2018 through a partnership between the ASEAN Foundation, the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, ASEAN Secretariat, and USAID. It empowered early- to mid-career scientists across Southeast Asia to apply their research expertise to public policy and regional development.

Through the fellowship, scientists were embedded in national government ministries where they conducted research, provided policy insights, and supported evidence-based decision-making. The initiative aligned with ASEAN’s Plan of Action on STI 2016–2025, covering priority areas like climate change, health, energy, digital transformation, and innovation ecosystems.

Inspired by the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship in the United States, this programme started under the ASEAN-U.S. PROGRESS project and expanded over five cycles. It played a key role in advancing science-policy integration and promoting collaboration among ASEAN Member States.

By the time it concluded, the programme had supported 52 fellows from across the region. The ASEAN S&T Fellowship built a new generation of scientist-leaders committed to shaping policies for sustainable development and strengthening ASEAN’s science and technology capacity.